Romania’s Simona Halep returns the ball to United States’ Serena Williams during the women’s singles final match on day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Simona Halep won her first Wimbledon title and kept Serena Williams from winning her eighth. Halep beat Williams 6-2, 6-2 on Centre Court for her second major title. Williams was trying to win her record-equaling 24th Grand Slam singles title, but she failed in a final for the third time. Williams lost to Angelique Kerber in last year’s Wimbledon final and lost to Naomi Osaka in the championship match at the U.S. Open.
Williams still holds the record for most major singles titles in the professional era with 23, one more than Steffi Graf. But Margaret Court, who won 13 of her Grand Slam singles titles in the amateur era, has 24 overall.
Halep, who won last year’s French Open title, had only three unforced errors to Williams’ 25 in the final.
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were in the Royal Box for the women’s final at Wimbledon. The royals were joined by Kate’s sister, Pippa. Meghan is friends with Serena Williams, who was facing Simona Halep in the final on Centre Court. British Prime Minister Theresa May was also in the Royal Box.
Simona Halep won the first set 6-2 against Serena Williams in the women’s Wimbledon final. Halep dominated the seven-time Wimbledon champion from the start, breaking Williams in her first two service games and taking a 4-0 lead. At that stage, Halep had hit six winners and zero unforced errors. Williams had zero winners and nine unforced errors.
Williams’ only break point of the set came at 4-1, but she hit a forehand wide. Halep is looking for her first Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam trophy overall. Williams has won 23 major tournaments.
Source: Associated Press